Anti glare lens coatings
Discussion
Following the sound dentistry advice I got here a few months back I thought I'd ask a question about optometry.
Every time I get new glasses I opt for the anti glare coating.
Come the biannual eyetest I always end up buying at least new lenses as though the prescription doesn't change the lenses will always be covered in fine scratches which I see as a kind of haze across the lens.
I'm now told that this is actually the anti glare coating which gets scratched and that I should leave the anti glare off my next pair. Is this right?
I use a VDU for 3-4 hours a day in a strip light lit office and drive at night several times a week, will leaving the anti glare off cause me problems?
Every time I get new glasses I opt for the anti glare coating.
Come the biannual eyetest I always end up buying at least new lenses as though the prescription doesn't change the lenses will always be covered in fine scratches which I see as a kind of haze across the lens.
I'm now told that this is actually the anti glare coating which gets scratched and that I should leave the anti glare off my next pair. Is this right?
I use a VDU for 3-4 hours a day in a strip light lit office and drive at night several times a week, will leaving the anti glare off cause me problems?
I had exactly the same prob. Was told that these scratches can be caused by letting your specs get steamed up by leaving them lying around the bathroom or wearing them in a sauna etc which damages the anti glare coating. Can't vouch for the accuracy of this (I'm no optician), but I took the advice and my latest pair have remained scratch free so could be correct.
Most anti reflective coatings also include a scratch resistant coating. So if you scratch a coated lens then you will also scratch an uncoated lens.
A better option may be upgrading the coating. The newer coatings seem to be harder wearing, they are also oleophobic(?sp) and hydrophobic they repel water and oil, so you don't have to clean them as much.
The anti reflective coating is recommended for VDU use and night driving especially, although I feel it should be standard on most spectacles.
Also see
http://www.agape1.com/antireflective.htm
A better option may be upgrading the coating. The newer coatings seem to be harder wearing, they are also oleophobic(?sp) and hydrophobic they repel water and oil, so you don't have to clean them as much.
The anti reflective coating is recommended for VDU use and night driving especially, although I feel it should be standard on most spectacles.
Also see
http://www.agape1.com/antireflective.htm
All lenses, coated or not, will develop fine scratches. Preventing them is difficult, but in general don't ever clean them with tissues (cellulose fibres are very abrasive), use a proper lens cloth and a cleansing solution to loosen grease & dirt. It is worth blowing on the lenses or gently wiping a finger across them before cleaning to avoid rubbing abrasive particles into the lens while cleaning. The less often and aggressively you clean them, the longer they will last.
Hard coating the lens is worthwhile, anti-glare is a matter of preference.
Hard coating the lens is worthwhile, anti-glare is a matter of preference.
This is so my thread!
For the second time running with these glasses I have a serious coating problem. Only on the right lens though. Again. Can't afford to replace the specs this year so its a bit of a problem.
The inside of the right lens has marks all over it, almost like small random lines. Imagine flicking paint onto a wall in a sweeping action and that what it looks like. The initial fractures are getting much bigger (although slowly), and are a complete pain. In some lighting they flare so aren't the nicest thing to look through.
I'm waiting for its all to join to together so I just have a hole in the middle.
Anyone any ideas?
Also, how do you remove the coating? I'm up for applying alcohol to them deliberately.
For the second time running with these glasses I have a serious coating problem. Only on the right lens though. Again. Can't afford to replace the specs this year so its a bit of a problem.
The inside of the right lens has marks all over it, almost like small random lines. Imagine flicking paint onto a wall in a sweeping action and that what it looks like. The initial fractures are getting much bigger (although slowly), and are a complete pain. In some lighting they flare so aren't the nicest thing to look through.
I'm waiting for its all to join to together so I just have a hole in the middle.
Anyone any ideas?
Also, how do you remove the coating? I'm up for applying alcohol to them deliberately.
tinman0 said:
This is so my thread!
For the second time running with these glasses I have a serious coating problem. Only on the right lens though. Again. Can't afford to replace the specs this year so its a bit of a problem.
The inside of the right lens has marks all over it, almost like small random lines. Imagine flicking paint onto a wall in a sweeping action and that what it looks like. The initial fractures are getting much bigger (although slowly), and are a complete pain. In some lighting they flare so aren't the nicest thing to look through.
I'm waiting for its all to join to together so I just have a hole in the middle.
Anyone any ideas?
Also, how do you remove the coating? I'm up for applying alcohol to them deliberately.
The coating process is not always perfect. I had some glasses which appeared to have water spots on them after about a year. I went back to the optician who said the coating was defective and got them replaced for free.For the second time running with these glasses I have a serious coating problem. Only on the right lens though. Again. Can't afford to replace the specs this year so its a bit of a problem.
The inside of the right lens has marks all over it, almost like small random lines. Imagine flicking paint onto a wall in a sweeping action and that what it looks like. The initial fractures are getting much bigger (although slowly), and are a complete pain. In some lighting they flare so aren't the nicest thing to look through.
I'm waiting for its all to join to together so I just have a hole in the middle.
Anyone any ideas?
Also, how do you remove the coating? I'm up for applying alcohol to them deliberately.
AlanKSG said:
The coating process is not always perfect. I had some glasses which appeared to have water spots on them after about a year. I went back to the optician who said the coating was defective and got them replaced for free.
First time round they were done for free as they were under warranty. However, today they are well outside warranty so haven't bothered with the optician. Can't help feeling they'll tell me to get lost.tinman0 said:
AlanKSG said:
The coating process is not always perfect. I had some glasses which appeared to have water spots on them after about a year. I went back to the optician who said the coating was defective and got them replaced for free.
First time round they were done for free as they were under warranty. However, today they are well outside warranty so haven't bothered with the optician. Can't help feeling they'll tell me to get lost.Faulty coating are more often like crazy paving.
As said above heat and certain chemicals (eg washing up liquid) will degrade the coating.
Ok.
Multi layer antireflection coatings (MAR)
They work on a principle of destructive interference with light relected from the lens surface and the coating surface cancelling each other out as they are out of phase.
All ARs come with a scratch resistant coating (only it isn't actually a coating) and most with a hydrophobic coating too.
They work well for point light sources - car lights, street lights, VDUs etc. Less obviously for general sunlight.
Most good coatings - Essilor, Nikon, Zeiss (probably not Pentax ;-))have a 2 year guarantee against the coating breaking down (probably the "paint flaking" mentioned above) but not scratching.
However Essilor now have a Forte coating which they guarantee for 2 years against scatches. You will pay a bit more for them 120 ish. They may regret offering the guarantee but they are pushing it hard and I've had that face to face from the UK Europe MD so it must be true!
They are a good idea for everyone in every situation except front surfaces of sunglass lenses.
Excessive heat will break them down (car dash in summer for instance) but general surfactants including washing up liquid shouldn't really cause any issues.
Hope that helps.
Multi layer antireflection coatings (MAR)
They work on a principle of destructive interference with light relected from the lens surface and the coating surface cancelling each other out as they are out of phase.
All ARs come with a scratch resistant coating (only it isn't actually a coating) and most with a hydrophobic coating too.
They work well for point light sources - car lights, street lights, VDUs etc. Less obviously for general sunlight.
Most good coatings - Essilor, Nikon, Zeiss (probably not Pentax ;-))have a 2 year guarantee against the coating breaking down (probably the "paint flaking" mentioned above) but not scratching.
However Essilor now have a Forte coating which they guarantee for 2 years against scatches. You will pay a bit more for them 120 ish. They may regret offering the guarantee but they are pushing it hard and I've had that face to face from the UK Europe MD so it must be true!
They are a good idea for everyone in every situation except front surfaces of sunglass lenses.
Excessive heat will break them down (car dash in summer for instance) but general surfactants including washing up liquid shouldn't really cause any issues.
Hope that helps.
Edited by DKL on Sunday 15th February 19:54
Jesus, I leave the PC for half an hour and come back to more info than I know what to do with 
I wear mine all day every day and clean them 2-3 times a week by rinsing under the tap and then using a lens cleaning solution and cloths provided by the Optician. The scratches are in straight lines in the same direction as I wipe so I've always been careful about dust, grit etc but I still get the scratches.
Interesting points re: upgrading the coatings. I didn't realise there were different types & am quite surprised that the Optician never mentioned this as it seems he's missing a trick there, maybe he prefers my repeat lens business. Either way I think a change of supplier is in the offing.
Thanks all.
I wear mine all day every day and clean them 2-3 times a week by rinsing under the tap and then using a lens cleaning solution and cloths provided by the Optician. The scratches are in straight lines in the same direction as I wipe so I've always been careful about dust, grit etc but I still get the scratches.
Interesting points re: upgrading the coatings. I didn't realise there were different types & am quite surprised that the Optician never mentioned this as it seems he's missing a trick there, maybe he prefers my repeat lens business. Either way I think a change of supplier is in the offing.
Thanks all.
Clammy said:
I wear mine all day every day and clean them 2-3 times a week by rinsing under the tap and then using a lens cleaning solution and cloths provided by the Optician.
Almost right Clammy!Rinse the lenses first to get rid of any bigger dust/grit particles, then use a liquid soap to clean the grease etc off them. Rinse and give them a good shake.
Whatever water is left just dab dry with a tissue. Do not wipe with a tissue as they are paper based and will scratch your lenses. If there are a few smears then use the microfibre cloths provided. Don't forget to put the cloth throught the washing machine every month or so.
All will be well.
There endeth the lesson
ETA since your in Brum for better value get yourself to the undergraduate clinics at Aston Uni. They will always be cheaper and you will be doing a good turn for the (young, female get my drift...) 3rd year students to practice on.
Edited by DKL on Sunday 15th February 20:46
tinman0 said:
DKL said:
There endeth the lesson
How do you accelerate the removal of the coating though?Sadly to my knowledge there is nothing that will easily remove a coating but leave a good optical surface underneath. You will notice the bumps and waves that get left behind.
Time for some new ones I'm afraid.
Tinman - read your first post - how old are they?
Edited by DKL on Sunday 15th February 20:50
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